Ghana: Health workers from ECOWAS states train for deployment to Ebola-hit nations

Accra, Ghana (PANA) - Health workers from six ECOWAS member states will undergo training from Monday (24Nov) in Ghana's capital, Accra, ahead of their deployment to the three countries most affected by the Ebola outbreak in the region, an ECOWAS Commission statement obtained by PANA here Monday said.

After the five-day training, the health workers from Benin, Niger, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria and Mali will work with personnel of health ministries in Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone in a coordinated response efforts to defeat the Ebola scourge, which has claimed more than 5,000 lives mainly in the three affected countries.

The joint training and deployment initiative by the African Union (AU) and ECOWAS, through the West African Health Organisation (WAHO), involves some 150 health workers be deployed for three months..

It is part of the regional response plan adopted by the last Assembly of ECOWAS Health Ministers, and it is aimed at providing substantial support in human resources to strengthen the health system of the affected countries in their efforts to contain the epidemic.

The support by the health workers will include identification of cases, contact tracing, case management, handling of corpses and strengthening of preventive measures, while revitalising the health system of the affected countries.
-0- PANA SEG 24Nov2014